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From: "Nancee\(McMurtrey\)Seifert" <>
Subject: [IADECATU] DAVIS CITY, IOWA; 1897 - by GEO. T. WILLIAMS (part 4)
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 17:43:22 -0500


The Davis City Advance, Davis City, Iowa
Thursday, January 7, 1897

'DAVIS CITY and DECATUR COUNTY'
~~~~~~~~~~~~

'REAL ESTATE AGENCY'

The whole spirit of this entire paper, pure and simple is to point out the advantages of Davis City and Decatur County as a point second to none in the United States, as a place where homes can be made in a few years, and at the same time have the very best educational advantage and be located in the midst of refinement and intelligence. This issue will undoubtedly fall into the hands of hundreds of people all over the United States, and wherever their homes may be now, we hope to number many of them in the not distant future among the residents of Davis city and Decatur County. To the new comer, the first question to be settled is "where can I find a reliable real estate agency to assist me in purchasing a farm or a home?" In reply to this question nearly every business man in the city would refer you to

'GEO. P. CAMPBELL'
MESSRS. CAMPBELL & HALSTEAD.

The real estate firm of the town. As a firm established in l895, but Mr. Campbell had been in the business before. Their lands range in prices from $15 to $75 per acre, and they are also agents for the Port Arthur Route lands of southern Missouri and Arkansas, having lands from $1.50 to $10.00 per acre on long time, also lands for trade, exchange and rent. They also carry on a general farm and loan business, and have plenty of money which they can place upon real estate security at a very low rate of interest, and the money is always ready as soon as the papers are made out, therefore causing no delay to the borrower. The lands they have for sale in this county are just such as those we have described in the introduction of this article.

'TOWN PROPERTY'

Campbell & Halstead informed us that they have bargains in town property for sale or rent. This agency will give prompt attention to collecting rents and paying taxes for non-resident land owners, and if you want to buy, or have property for sale or exchange, it will pay you to list it with them. Correspondence is respectfully solicited and reliable answers will be made promptly to the same. They are also agents for the leading insurance companies and the Mutual Life Insurance Company.

George P. Campbell was born in Ohio, and came to this county in l869. During all that time he never knew a failure of crops in this county. He came to this city in l882 and was Mayor of the town and a member of the town council for six years, and Recorder four years and is now serving his third term as Justice of the Peace, and is active in politics and has a good home in the city.

O.B. Halstead came here two years ago from Schuyler, Nebraska and came to stay. He served in the War in Company D, 64th Ohio, and is a prominent G.A.R. man.

'MERCANTILE ESTABLISHMENTS'

Davis City certainly has a just cause to feel proud of her numerous and well stocked general merchandise stores, for they would be a credit to a city many times her size. Chief among the mercantile establishments of Davis City, the writer finds that of

'JEFFRIES & SON'

A.J. Jeffries, the senior member of the firm is one of Davis City's pioneers, having come to this city 40 years ago, and has been a farmer and still owns 1,000 or 1,200 acres of well improved land. His son I.N. Jeffries, the junior member of the firm, was raised from boyhood on a farm and his friends are numbered by his acquaintances.

This firm was established six years ago, and is run by I.N. Jeffries, assisted by L.A. Brown. They occupy a brick building 26x80 feet, two stories with the A.F. & A.M. hall above. The firm have an exceptionally fine stock of both foreign and domestic groceries, as well as hardware, tinware, glass ware, majolica ware, lamps and holiday goods. The highest market price is paid for country produce. Everything looks so fresh and clean that it makes one hungry to look around. We can't begin to tell of all the good things to be found here, there is tea, coffee, sugar, canned goods, spices, confectionery, canned and salt fish and in fact anything you may call for.

'DR. W.J. LANEY'

In writing of the physicians and surgeons of Davis City we should certainly be doing an injustice to the profession were we to omit the name of Dr. W.J. Laney from the list of Biographies. Dr. Laney is the oldest practitioner in the county and has been practicing since l85l. He is a graduate from the Willoughby College, and came to this county in l853 and established a drug store in connection with his practice. He has a large store room 24x60 feet with a fine prescription case, and a large and complete stock of holiday goods, mixed paints and wall paper, and he respectfully invites the public to call and inspect these goods before making their purchase elsewhere. Prescriptions are carefully compounded both day and night, and special attention is given to this branch of the business. His career as a physician and surgeon during the past years has been more than successful.

His daughter, Miss Flora Belle Laney is the obliging clerk and pharmacist, and is a fine and accomplished young lady, and her friends are numbered by her acquaintances. Mrs. Laney, the estimable wife of the doctor, also assists in the store, and the entire family are among the best citizens, and enjoy a wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the social world.

Dr. Laney was representative of this county in l858, and is among the very few now living who were members of that August and pioneer group of law makers.

We should certainly be doing an injustice to the business interests of this city, and to this location were we to omit from this special edition of the "Advance", a mention of the firm that is second to none in this part of the State in the business in which they are engaged. We have reference to the
'DAVIS CITY ROLLER MILLS'

which was established here in l875. They have a fine large mill with all the latest and improved machinery and rollers. The building is a three story brick 50x50 feet with a basement and which cost about $13,000. The proprietors of the mill are the Frazier Brothers, William and S.R. These gentlemen have been connected with this mill for five years. L.M. and C.S. Frazier are the sons of the proprietors, and they look after the mechanical department. C.S. is a practical miller, and has quite a good deal of experience to this business. The capacity of the mill is 60 barrels per day, and most of the time they run it to its full capacity. They make use of both water and steam power. Water is supplied from the Grand River. The various brands of flour which they make and sell, both in wholesale and retail lots to the local merchant and to others, are: "High Patent," "King of Iowa," "Plansifter Straight," "Almond Blossom" and "Climax. They also grind buckwheat, and have !
the pure buckwheat flour for sale at all times. In addition, they grind chop feed of all kinds. Their trade extends over a territory of thirty miles or more and the gentlemen are doing a good business. They are straight and reliable and are worthy of the excellent ptronage they are receiving. The Fraziers are all old settlers in this community, and are enterprising citizens.

C.E. Morgan is one of the trusted employees of the mill. In another place may be seen a cut of the fine brick building belonging to the Messrs. Frazier. It is one of the best mill buildings in Southern Iowa and one which Davis City may justly be proud of.

To Be Continued . . .'S.R. FRAZIER'

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
September 3, 2003

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